xbox live – Nerdisthttp://nerdist.com
Fri, 18 Aug 2017 01:00:46 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8Will Cross-Platform Gaming Really Bring Xbox and PlayStation Together?http://nerdist.com/cross-platform-gaming-xbox-playstation/
Fri, 18 Mar 2016 20:30:06 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=381050Up until now, Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network were two different ways you could play games online with friends or strangers, but never the two would meet… until now? A recent announcement from Microsoft — outlining their plans to introduce cross-platform play between Xbox Live and Windows 10 for Rocket League — mentioned that the native support they’re introducing could allow for “other online multiplayer networks.” Bold move for Microsoft to take the first steps at suggesting the two gaming giants could start playing nice.

Imagine how awesome it would be to game with all of your friends, regardless of what console they own? Never again feeling the pressure to ditch your Uncharted exclusives to buy an Xbox and join your buddy’s Halo squad. No longer would you stay up late debating whether Mortal Kombat X players are more worthy challengers on Sony’s platform or Microsoft’s! What a wonderful world this could be!

Thanks for watching today’s show! In case you missed it, catch up with all of our SXSW coverage, including interviews with Danny McBride, Gillian Jacobs, Anna Kendrick, the casts of Silicon Valley and Preacher, on Nerdist.com.

But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below: Do you want to see Xbox and PlayStation cross-platform play take off? Are you too dedicated to your own platform to share the love? Do you think PlayStation will follow suit?

]]>What’s Free This Month: May Brings GUACAMELEE! SUPER TURBO CHAMPION EDITION & More!http://nerdist.com/whats-free-this-month-may-brings-guacamelee-super-turbo-champion-edition-more/
Fri, 08 May 2015 00:00:23 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=250735Who doesn’t love free games? Personally, I am a big fan of anything free. But games, that’s when I yell “Yahtzee!” I assume that most will echo the same feeling. That is why we want to make it easier for you to check out what games are available to you for free on with Xbox Live and PS Plus every month. Think of it essentially as a free guide to free games. Your one stop, know all, guide to which games may be more worth your time as opposed to others. We’ll even give you the original price for each title in their respective marketplace. Now without any further adieu, check out this month’s Gaming Freebies.

This month’s Xbox line-up isn’t the best to be honest, with the Xbox 360 probably getting the best titles. Also, Pool Nation, the free title from last month, will be available all of May as well.

Castle Storm Definitive Edition (Xbox One)

This title is a mix of 2D warfare with some tower defense, all while pitting Knights and Vikings against each other. The art style and co-op madness should be enough to give this one a try.

Original Price: $14.99 Initial Release: September 23, 2014 Available: All May

Mafia II (Xbox 360)

This one is a doozie, in a good way. Imagine gameplay similar to Grand Theft Auto, running around an open city wrecking everything in your path–minus some of the polish, plus some Mafia rankings. Definitely check this one out.

Hi-octane gunplay, brutal fighting, and white-knuckle driving bust onto the screen in this beautifully crafted look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia. Start with low-level jobs like robbery and stealing cars, and climb the family ladder.

F1 2013 (Xbox 360)

If you are into racing, and especially Formula 1, this is all you. It is the closest you will get to racing in these events in a video game. It includes plenty of content and is also presents the most amount of savings.

Experience all-new 1980s classic content plus all the cars, stars and circuits from the 2013 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™ in F1™ 2013. F1 2013 includes F1 Classics, an expansive new game mode introduced by legendary broadcaster Murray Walker, where you’ll race famous cars from Ferrari, Williams and Lotus against icons of the sports including Nigel Mansell, Mario Andretti and Gerhard Berger.

Sony is not holding back this month. There are some big hitters here that everyone should try out, especially Guacamelee. Thankfully there is a lot of cross-over on platforms thanks to cross-buy so you are getting more for each platform because of it.

Guacamelee! Super Turbo Champion Edition (PS4)

This is Metroidvania at its absolute best. Playing as a luchador, faced with death, you must battle all types of beasts and skeletons all while solving environmental puzzles. Super Turbo Champion Edition is the latest iteration of the title and includes new locations and new gear. If you haven’t already, play this!

This 2D brawler/platformer hybrid is inspired by Mexican folklore and has a vivid art style to match. Explore a huge world, learn the robust fighting system, and enjoy some drop-in, drop-out co-op.

Original Price: $14.99 Initial Release: July 1, 2014 Available: All May

Ether One (PS4)

This one may not be familiar too many people but it originally released on PC last year. As a first-person puzzle game, it delves into deep themes about the human mind. It also just released this past Tuesday on PSN so it is worth the try just for the mind games.

This haunting, first-person puzzler tasks you with restoring the minds of the mentally ill by solving complex puzzles and sewing together the frayed strands of the patient’s lives. Be warned: not everything is as it seems.

Original Price: $19.99 Initial Release: March 25, 2014 Available: All May

The Unfinished Swan (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)

This is another obscure title that is not your typical video game. It is first-person adventure with a story that you must play to understand. This is well worth your time.

Developer Giant Sparrow made big waves with this project thanks to its astounding art style and thought-provoking gameplay. Will you help find a fitting end to this fairy tale? Experience a breath-taking story filled with delightful twists.

Race The Sun (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)

Race to the Sun features some arcade-style gameplay where you must race to the end, with the sun being your only timer. Who thought it would be a good idea to race a solar powered aircraft? It can be addicting, but only because it is fun.

This minimalist racing game forces you to compete against the setting sun in what is both a deeply calming and nail-biting session. That may sound like a contradiction, but it’s true!

Original Price: $9.99 Initial Release: August 19, 2013 Available: All May

Hohokum (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)

Want to relax, explore at your own pace, while looking at pretty colors? This is the game for you. The point of this game is to explore and find new secrets with no rush at all. It is an odd title for sure, but sometimes you just need to chill.

A supremely relaxing game that’s bursting at the seams with personality. Explore a crazy, colorful world, meet new friends, and just let go as you listen to the incredible soundtrack by a collection of talented artists.

Original Price: $14.99 Initial Release: August 12, 2014 Available: All May

Murasaki Baby (PS Vita)

Think of Tim Burton’s art style and add some touchscreen puzzles, that is sort of what Murasaki Baby is all about. It may not feature the best puzzles or challenges but the art style alone is interesting enough to give it a shot.

A strange puzzle game with an eerie atmosphere. Players guide Baby through a nightmarish landscape in search of home. It’s cute, and also a little weird.

Original Price: $14.99 Initial Release: September 16, 2014 Available: All May

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It’s been a great month for free games indeed. While the Xbox selection is not terrible, Sony is really bringing out the big guns with their Playstation Plus titles. Make sure to check back every month to get your dosage of free titles and of course, gobbling up all our nerd coverage. Let us know in the comments section below, what titles you will be playing first.

]]>Gaming Daily: Fan Makes PORTAL Playable on Nintendo DShttp://nerdist.com/gaming-daily-fan-makes-portal-playable-on-nintendo-ds/
http://nerdist.com/gaming-daily-fan-makes-portal-playable-on-nintendo-ds/#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 03:00:49 +0000http://nerdist.com/?p=235551It’s Thursday, everybody, and you know what that means: we’re one step closer to another glorious Friday. It usually feels like a grind, but not today. Not only did we get a new trailer for Mortal Kombat X, we also got a new update for the PS4 that finally allows games to be suspended and resumed later. (This is a feature that was promised way too long ago–better late than never I guess.) Though both the new trailer and the update are good, there’s even more. In today’s Gaming Daily: Get your face in Homefront: The Revolution, Games with Gold is giving away double the games in April, and a home-brew Portal demo is running on a Nintendo 3DS.

Get your face in Homefront: The Revolution

Ever wanted to be in a video game, even if it was just as an NPC (the equivalent of an extra on television)? Deep Silver has your back. The UK-based developer is offering fans a chance to get into their newest Homefront game. The new game, titled Homefront: The Revolution, is in need of some more NPC faces and that is where you come in. All you need to do is submit a picture onto their website for a chance to be chosen.

If chosen, you will have to travel to Nottingham City and get your face scanned. The process takes half an hour, but the good thing is that you’ll get paid.

This might not be feasible for those that can’t travel, but it is a cool way of involving the community. Plus, who wouldn’t want their face in a video game? Just ask Jessica Chobot.

Xbox Live Gold is giving away double the games

For some time now it was clear that PS Plus offered a better assortment of free games each month but Microsoft must have been taking note because April’s Games with Gold offerings are no joke. This upcoming month will offer double the games for Xbox owners. The Xbox One will be getting Pool Nation FX and Child of Light, while Xbox 360 owners will be able to download Gears of War Judgement, Terraria, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel

Overall it’s an excellent assortment of games, with plenty of AAA titles. Make sure to dust off the old 360 and download all four of the games.

When there is competition between companies, the consumer always wins and this is proof of that. It is hard to complain about free things (though you pay for Live and PS Plusm so not necessarily free), but hopefully this means that Sony will also be stepping up their game with their PS Plus free game releases.

Portal running on the DS

The home-brew community never ceases to impress. Smeas, a home-brewer has, put a demo of Portal on a Nintendo 3DS and it actually works. The video he has posted shows him going through several rooms and levels, all while showing off that all the mechanics from the original game. It even looks great for the system it is running on.

It is important to note that this is not an official release from Valve, and it is just from a creator working independently. Meaning it won’t be releasing to everyone anytime soon. It would be great to get a Portal game on the go that works that well.

You could be part of the solution though. The developer in question has encouraged others to help with the game by posting the source code online.

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That is it for today fellow nerds. It was certainly a good batch of news today. Make sure to let us know what you think about all the weird, cool, and exciting news of the day in the comments section below. Until next time, keep it nerdy.

]]>http://nerdist.com/gaming-daily-fan-makes-portal-playable-on-nintendo-ds/feed/1Indie Games Shine at Microsoft’s GDC ID@Xbox Eventhttp://nerdist.com/indie-games-shine-at-microsofts-gdc-idxbox-event/
http://nerdist.com/indie-games-shine-at-microsofts-gdc-idxbox-event/#commentsThu, 05 Mar 2015 01:00:26 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=229850You know what one of the best parts about the Game Developers Conference is? Indie games! This year’s GDC has been no slouch in bringing an abundance of self-published titles to the forefront, and Microsoft threw a special event showcasing some of the indie titles on the Xbox One horizon. There were over 20 games available for folks to get their hands on, but there were several that undoubtedly stood out above the rest. If you like indie games, immense fun, and own an Xbox One, keep reading to get a glimpse at several titles you’ll want to be on the look out for.

Screen Cheat

At first glance, Screen Cheat looks like your generic split-screen first-person shooter: a game with twitch mechanics, varying reticules, and your weapon of choice within your field of view. And it would surely be easy to chalk this one up as just another FPS game in the over-saturated genre, except for one small but paramount detail: you cannot see any of your opponents through your own screen.

Screen Cheat takes one of the most despised and unsportsmanlike maneuvers in split-screen gaming, and makes it your only means of survival. Basically, the only way I could locate where my opponents were on screen was to look at their screen and see what room they were standing in. It’s like Goldeneye, but with everyone playing with cloaking abilities for their characters. The rooms are colored differently and furnished with abstract objects to make pinpointing the location of your enemy a possible feat–though, you’ll still find yourself playing the guessing game quite a bit. I realized several minutes in that fragging an invisible target may be more gratifying than taking down someone I can see.

If you’re wondering how this will work online, that’s easy: the split-screen perspective is still maintained when playing against players who aren’t local. Though I didn’t have a chance to try out the online, I can say that the game itself is a fresh take on first-person shooters, and a game you’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for.

Swordy

Lordy, lordy, pass the Swordy! This 8-player physics-based combat game pits players in a topdown, weapon-riddled arena, and forces them to mercilessly maim each other until there’s only one fighter left standing. Well, maybe calling them “fighters” is a bit to gracious: the characters you control are goofy, unorthodox, and very difficult to control. This makes for hilariously frantic battles to the death that are sure to create some exciting moments, especially in the party atmosphere.

Though the character models are rendered in 3D, the game reminded me a lot of Nidhogg in the sense that the bloodshed came in the form of color-coded pixels. Unlike Nidhogg, however, I don’t think this game requires as much skill, nor cat-like reflexes. So if you’re looking for a fun, evenly-balanced competitive game to spruce up your game nights, Swordy is most definitely a title you’ll want to add to your list of games to pick up.

Fortified

Fortified is a mixture of third-person shooting, tower defense, and real-time strategy. The objective is to defend your base from waves of alien forces by setting up turrets, anti-air assault units, and various other defensive structures/weaponry. I was a big fan of Brutal Legend back in the day, and this game definitely made some of the more promising elements from Tim Schafer’s timeless classic and made them its own.

What makes Fortified even sweeter is not only its smooth and fast-paced gameplay, but the fact you can enjoy said smooth and fast-paced gameplay with up to three of your buddies for some tower defense co-op shenanigans. Even if tower defense isn’t your thing, tackling this genre of games with friends makes for a much more enjoyable experience.

Mighty No. 9

I’m sure many of you have heard about Mighty No. 9 at some point. The Kickstarter-funded spiritual successor to Mega Man–that’s being helmed by the renowned Keiji Inafune– was out and in full force at the event. There’s not much new to say about this game: it’s still looking like the Mega Man game we’ve been craving.

Staying true to the form of its predecessor, the Might No. 9 is extremely hard! But it’s a welcome challenge that provides that same rinse and repeat style of gameplay we’ve always loved, followed by that gratifying sense of overcoming the game’s impossible bosses. I failed miserably during my time with the game, which I look to one day redeem myself for when it officially launches. It probably didn’t help that Keiji Inafune himself was standing directly behind me either, judging my every move and failure. No pressure…

Cuphead

Here we go! My favorite game of the event by far–which I haven’t been able to shut up about– was Studio MHDR’s Cuphead. Styled like a vintage cartoon, Cuphead is a collection of the most epic and challenging part of your traditional 2D side-scrolling titles: the boss battles. You read that right, folks– Cuphead is a game about fighting bosses, some of which seem very impossible to beat, and are extremely gratifying to take down. Without giving too much away–because I believe figuring out the game’s ins and outs was part of the joy in playing it– you play as a teacup-headed hero who squirts liquid drops from his finger, and has an affinity for the color pink.

I was left couch-locked by the game’s intuitive controls and engaging counter system, with each boss presenting a fun new challenge that I couldn’t wait to dissect and conquer. I’m sure this game will draw many comparison’s to Mega Man for its difficulty, but I believe Cuphead cuts out the fluff of “stage progression” out and throws players straight into the arena with menacing bosses that want to put a nice long crack on the side of Cuphead’s top. Just wait until you face off against the “giant frogs” if you want to fully catch my drift. If the art style isn’t enough to make you give this game a try, just take five minutes to see what you think of the gameplay. After you do, feel free to send your “thank you” to me directly on twitter, @Malik4Play.
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Do any of these indie games sound interesting to you? What are some upcoming indie titles that you’re looking forward to. Flip your comments down into the comments below.

]]>http://nerdist.com/indie-games-shine-at-microsofts-gdc-idxbox-event/feed/2Nerdist: Play – The Survivor’s Guide To Dealing With Online Trollshttp://nerdist.com/nerdist-play-the-survivors-guide-to-dealing-with-online-trolls/
http://nerdist.com/nerdist-play-the-survivors-guide-to-dealing-with-online-trolls/#commentsTue, 27 Jan 2015 18:00:24 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?post_type=vepisode&p=221916Dealing with the hostile trolls of online gaming is pretty easy, isn’t it? Well, perhaps it is if you’re someone like me–a person who’s heard and seen pretty much every insult and slur that the 56k modem era had to offer and beyond. There are many horror stories related to playing video games online, and for anyone who is just getting into the swing of this growing format, you definitely want to be aware of the sometimes rancorous environment that crops up with voice chat.

On this week’s episode of Nerdist: Play, I offer up several work-arounds for folks who are exhausted with the never-ending sea of online gaming trolls. Asking folks to practice good behavior is something we’ll have to stay vigilant about, but there’s always something the “victims” of such behavior can do to mitigate their displeasure.

Are you the type of person who is quick on the draw with your mute button when you come across jerks online? Do you get into verbal squabbles, going troll for troll with whomever throws shade in your direction? How do you deal with mean folks in online games? Let us know in the comments below.

If you want to have your voice heard on a future episode of PLAY, be sure join the conversation with yours truly over on Twitter!

]]>http://nerdist.com/nerdist-play-the-survivors-guide-to-dealing-with-online-trolls/feed/9For One Week, Get a Free Game With Every Xbox One Console Purchasehttp://nerdist.com/for-one-week-get-a-free-game-with-every-xbox-one-console-purchase/
http://nerdist.com/for-one-week-get-a-free-game-with-every-xbox-one-console-purchase/#commentsThu, 04 Sep 2014 20:00:13 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=180075Aw, yeah! The season of Halloween treats, tasty cornbread, and candy canes is almost upon us. But nothing quite sweetens the pot like the word “free,” and the deal that Microsoft is offering up next week feels synonymous to taking candy from a baby. From September 7 through September 13, buying an Xbox One at participating U.S. retailers will score you a free game along with your console purchase.

The offer is good toward any physical copy of Xbox One retail games, and can also be applied to bundles as well (like the Forza 5 or Madden NFL 15 bundles). So basically, you could walk away with an Xbox One and two free games if you take advantage of this.

The boys in green couldn’t have picked a better week for this promotion, with the release of Destiny falling right within the deal’s window. This is quite the persuasive move by the Xbox camp, leveraging the release of the possibly the year’s most popular game and many gamers’ top reason for making the jump into the new generation of console hardware. This is also just the start of a holiday season full of price cuts and exclusive promotional offers, so please, go grab the broom and dustpan. I’ll grab the hammer and shatter the piggy bank.

]]>http://nerdist.com/for-one-week-get-a-free-game-with-every-xbox-one-console-purchase/feed/3Exclusive: Concept Art for Long-Simmering BLAKE’S 7 Serieshttp://nerdist.com/exclusive-concept-art-for-long-simmering-blakes-7-series/
http://nerdist.com/exclusive-concept-art-for-long-simmering-blakes-7-series/#commentsThu, 07 Aug 2014 20:30:18 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=172859Between 1978 and 1981, BBC-watchers were treated to a dour and gritty look at science fiction with the Terry Nation-created Blake’s 7, about a ragtag group of outlaws and ruffians who are made to team up and work together to take down a totalitarian government under the “leadership” of Roj Blake and in the ship known as The Liberator. Running 52 episodes, the series was one of the first in sci-fi to prove that no character, no matter how beloved (or named in the title of the show) was safe from the machinations of the storytelling gods. Here’s a gander at a bit of classic Blake’s 7.

For years, fans have been curious/worried about the proposed relaunch of the “Dirty Dozen in Space” series. It’s been in the pipeline for many years and unfortunately, continually hit snags. However, we do have three exclusive pieces of concept art for the show which, the official word is, is still in development. First, the pictures, then the backstory.

As you can see, the concept art is a little H.R. Giger-y, and certainly the Liberator looks quite different to the way the original show’s looks. Gives an idea for the visual tone the makers of the series are attempting to strike. Certainly looks like the right place for fugitives and outlaws to hang out, and it’s definitely not a glossy, pristine starship.

The rebirth of the project dates all the way back to 2000 when a TV movie was planned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show, which never came to fruition. Since then, several different ideas had been bandied about including a miniseries, an animated series, and a series of TV movies. In 2012, it was announced that Syfy had picked up the rights to a new series and announced that GoldenEye and Casino Royale director Martin Campbell would direct.

This ended up not materializing, although the idea of the remake continued, with the BBC eventually announcing in 2013 that there would indeed still be a new series appearing on Syfy. There was even talk that a full series order of 13 episodes had been placed. This, as you know, also didn’t result in a show, and then there was talk the series to end up on the Xbox Live Network, however that also no longer seems to be happening. The official word is that they are working on back-stories and production design and that they are discussing things with “several U.S. broadcasters.”

Whether this comes about or not, the idea of a redone Blake’s 7 is an intriguing one, given the success of Battlestar Galactica as a gritty space opera. Potentially, Blake’s 7 could be even bleaker than that series. But, presumably, in a cool and spectacle-filled way.

What do you make of all of the talk of a remake? Do these thee pieces of concept art make you more or less excited for a new show?

]]>http://nerdist.com/exclusive-concept-art-for-long-simmering-blakes-7-series/feed/26GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Crash Lands Into MINECRAFThttp://nerdist.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-crash-lands-into-minecraft/
Fri, 01 Aug 2014 01:00:42 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=171299For all of you stargazing misfits who happen to be not only “hooked on a feeling,” but hooked on Minecraft at the same damn time, Mojang and Marvel have teamed up to combine a couple of things that may be relevant to your interest. There’s a special Guardians of the Galaxy skin pack on the way for the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft, and today we get a first look at how our favorite band of space outlaws look when they’re all “blockafied” up.

Total creeper status. From these screens we can easily spot the regulars like Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Racoon, Groot, Drax and even the villain of Marvel villains himself, Thanos (who’s way better than Darkseid in my opinion). The skin pack will feature 24 characters in total, though no details have been released on when players will get their hands on them. Let’s just hope that they get here in time to ride the Guardians of The Galaxy wave with the movie launch today.

]]>Microsoft Offering Refunds For Xbox Live Goldhttp://nerdist.com/microsoft-offering-refunds-for-xbox-live-gold/
Wed, 14 May 2014 20:00:48 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=146837What is this? Cash for Gold, you say? Now that Xbox Live’s robust selection of entertainment services have been removed from behind the Gold subscription paywall, chances are you’ll want to get in on this action.

Starting this June, anyone with an Xbox Live subscription whose membership is solely based on the use of these apps, can receive a prorated refund on their Gold account. Choosing to do this means that you’ll receive the amount that your subscription would have cost between the time you cancelled it and the time your membership expires.

The only requirement is that you submit your refund request through Xbox’s support site before August 31, and after up to eight weeks of processing, you’ll be swimming in a mountain of prorated, cancelled Xbox Live Gold membership cash. Of course, that’s for anyone who doesn’t plan to play Xbox games online, which seems a lot more appealing after yesterday’s announced price cut of the Xbox One.

]]>Xbox Originals Programming Launches in June With Bonnaroo Apphttp://nerdist.com/xbox-originals-programming-launches-in-june-with-bonnaroo-app/
http://nerdist.com/xbox-originals-programming-launches-in-june-with-bonnaroo-app/#commentsMon, 28 Apr 2014 21:00:28 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=137497This morning, Microsoft rolled out more details about its Xbox Originals program, which sees the publisher joining Amazon and Netflix in creating its own lineup of digital programming. And yes, Halo is on the way.

Specifically, we’re talking about the Ridley Scott-produced feature Armi wrote up earlier this month. However, that will probably be beaten to the screen by the Steven Spielberg-produced TV series based on the sci-fi shooter.

In the near future, though, Microsoft hopes you’ll come for their unscripted programming, including their Bonnaroo coverage the weekend of June 13th. You’ll have to use a standalone app to access the Bonnaroo content, which will include performances from the three-day festival. June also sees the premiere of Every Street United, an eight-episode unscripted drama following several famous soccer players. The six-part documentary series rounds out the programming currently coming to Xbox Originals in 2014.

However, going forward, Micrsoft has some interesting things on the way including the sci-fi drama Humans, an adaptation of Warren Ellis’ novel Gun Machine, the stop-motion series Extraordinary Believers, the supernatural Western Deadlands, and the post-apocalyptic dramaWinterworld.

]]>http://nerdist.com/xbox-originals-programming-launches-in-june-with-bonnaroo-app/feed/1DEADLIGHT is Free in April Via Games With Goldhttp://nerdist.com/deadlight-is-free-in-april-via-games-with-gold/
Wed, 16 Apr 2014 20:00:15 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=133477Spring is in the air (most places, I feel bad for y’all dealing with the snow in the Northeast), so what better time to play a post-apocalyptic platformer?

Tequila Works’ Deadlight is free on Xbox Live for the month of April as part of Microsoft’s Games With Gold program (get it here).

Set in 1980s Seattle, Deadlight casts players as Randall, a man searching for his family in the wake of a global catastrophe in the vein of a shadowy, grim Flashback.

Normally $14.99, you might want to pick this 2012 Summer of Arcade offering before it goes back to full price.

]]>Xbox Live Celebrates Batman’s 75th With Games on the Cheaphttp://nerdist.com/xbox-live-celebrates-batmans-75th-with-games-on-the-cheap/
http://nerdist.com/xbox-live-celebrates-batmans-75th-with-games-on-the-cheap/#commentsTue, 15 Apr 2014 22:45:07 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=132969Nearly all of the current-gen Batman (and Batman-related) games have gotten a price cut on Xbox Live this week as part of their Spring Sale.

]]>http://nerdist.com/xbox-live-celebrates-batmans-75th-with-games-on-the-cheap/feed/1GAME OF THRONES Season 4 Premiere Free On Xbox Livehttp://nerdist.com/game-of-thrones-season-4-premiere-free-on-xbox-live/
http://nerdist.com/game-of-thrones-season-4-premiere-free-on-xbox-live/#commentsTue, 08 Apr 2014 22:15:07 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=130497Were you so busy wall-hopping and mech-blasting on Titanfall last weekend that you forgot to tune into the season 4 premiere of Game Of Thrones? Don’t even sweat it, my friends, because the full episode is now available for download on Xbox Live, free of charge.

The best part about this is you need not be an HBO Go subscriber nor an Xbox Live Gold member to take advantage of this sweet offer, although an Xbox Live membership does grant you access to exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes videos, and trailers from the show.

Be sure to check out our in-depth recap of the Game of Thrones season premiere right here.

]]>http://nerdist.com/game-of-thrones-season-4-premiere-free-on-xbox-live/feed/1Phil Spencer Becomes Head Of Microsoft’s Xbox Divisionhttp://nerdist.com/phil-spencer-becomes-head-of-microsofts-xbox-division/
http://nerdist.com/phil-spencer-becomes-head-of-microsofts-xbox-division/#commentsTue, 01 Apr 2014 03:00:48 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=127696There’s a new Sheriff in Xbox town, folks, as Microsoft has announced that Phil Spencer will be leading the charge as the new head of the Xbox division. The former VP of Microsoft Studios will now oversee all things Xbox, Xbox Live, and Microsoft Studios related.

“In this new job, Phil will lead the Xbox, Xbox Live, Xbox Music and Xbox Video teams, and Microsoft Studios,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated in a company email. “Combining all our software, gaming and content assets across the Xbox team under a single leader and aligning with the OSG team will help ensure we continue to do great work across the Xbox business, and bring more of the magic of Xbox to all form factors, including tablets, PCs and phones.”

Spencer will be acquiring the duties left by former Xbox Chief Product Officer Marc Whitten, who exited the company earlier in March for a gig with wireless audio company Sonos. Given that Spencer has always appealed to the core gaming crowd, I’d say this move should bode exceptionally well for the Xbox brand, especially after a tough summer of ill-received messaging.

]]>http://nerdist.com/phil-spencer-becomes-head-of-microsofts-xbox-division/feed/2Microsoft Hoping To Expand XBOX LIVE On Mobile Deviceshttp://nerdist.com/microsoft-hoping-to-expand-xbox-live-on-mobile-devices/
http://nerdist.com/microsoft-hoping-to-expand-xbox-live-on-mobile-devices/#commentsThu, 06 Mar 2014 00:00:08 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=120242When word got out about Microsoft bringing Cortana to Windows Phone 8.1 devices, there were a slew of “bring it to Android” and “I’d take her over Siri” comments firing off across the web. While there’s still no word on whether or not we’ll see Cortana go cross-platform, the next best thing may be in the works, as Microsoft has reportedly set its sights on taking the Xbox Live service to mobile devices in the biggest way possible.

Sources have informed TheVerge of Microsoft’s plans to expand Xbox Live onto iOS and Android, with the primary focus being on “winning back” developers by making Xbox Live easier to integrate across multiple platforms. The claims don’t appear to be far fetched, as revealed by a recent job posting made by Microsoft:

“We will create a modern framework that is open-source, lightweight, extensible and scalable across various platforms including Windows Store, Windows Phone, iOS, and Android,” the listing stated.

As it stands, Xbox Live requires that all content pass through a thick firewall of certifications and clearances before being green-lit, thus making it difficult for indie developers to bring their games to the platform. Microsoft hopes to loosen these restrictions and provide better tools for developers moving forward.

The current Xbox Live app is sufficient for what it is, so it’ll be interesting to see how much they expand on it moving forward. Regardless, I’m definitely for the toning down of complexity with SDKs as well as making software work seamlessly across multiple platforms. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more updates to this Xbox Live expansion as details are divulged.

]]>http://nerdist.com/microsoft-hoping-to-expand-xbox-live-on-mobile-devices/feed/1Microsoft Announces TITANFALL Xbox One Bundlehttp://nerdist.com/microsoft-announces-titanfall-xbox-one-bundle/
http://nerdist.com/microsoft-announces-titanfall-xbox-one-bundle/#commentsMon, 24 Feb 2014 22:45:06 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=117170If you were lucky enough to get some Titanfall beta action in last week despite not owning an Xbox One yet, here’s a bit of information that may tickle your fancy: Microsoft is offering a Titanfall Xbox One bundle and it is available for pre-order today.

The package includes everything you’d find in a standard Xbox One purchase with Titanfall included at no additional charge. So if you were planning to get an Xbox One anyway and are eyeballing Titanfall as hard as we are, this is your perfect opportunity to basically cash in on a free copy. I would like to clarify that this is not a special Titanfall edition Xbox One, but rather a standard Xbox One, bundled with the game.

Word on the streets is that the stock is limited on this, so it’d be in your best interest to pre-order this ASAP if it sounds appealing. And of course, if $500 sounds a little too steep at the moment, the game will also be available on PC and Xbox 360 when it drops on March 11th.

Make sure to have a look at Dan’s Titanfall beta impressions if you haven’t already and see what all the hype is about. Are you going to pick up the game? Let us know in the comments below.

]]>http://nerdist.com/microsoft-announces-titanfall-xbox-one-bundle/feed/2XBOX ONE Beckons Everyone To Playhttp://nerdist.com/xbox-one-beckons-everyone-to-play/
Fri, 25 Oct 2013 21:00:09 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=94875As the weeks wind down to the release of the next-gen consoles, the marketing campaigns have kicked into full gear. Earlier this week, Sony cleverly used nostalgia to tug at our feel-strings and rationalize a PS4 preorder.

Now Microsoft has answered with a bit of their own, showing us how the Xbox One will beckon gamers to come experience what it has to offer. Games such as Titanfall, Dead Rising 3 and Ryse: Son of Rome all get live action love in the latest advert, and we also get a cameo from everyone’s favorite Vulcan, Spock. Considering that everything Zach Quinto has touched as of late has been gold, this has to be a good sign for the Xbox One, right?

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The Xbox One is set to launch in 13 regions across the globe on November 22. You can pre-order one right now for $499 at any major retailer.

]]>Here’s Everything We Know About the Xbox Onehttp://nerdist.com/heres-everything-we-know-about-the-xbox-one/
http://nerdist.com/heres-everything-we-know-about-the-xbox-one/#commentsTue, 21 May 2013 20:17:46 +0000http://www.nerdist.com/?p=76226For years now, whispers of a next-gen Microsoft console code-named “Durango” have been providing grist for the rumor mills of the world, but today Microsoft laid all of its considerable cards on the table in a massive live-streamed event in which it gave us our first look at the Xbox One, a slick name that I like to imagine is what President Obama uses for his own console. As opposed to the general mystery that surrounded the PS4’s big reveal, it seems like we’ve known quite a bit about the forthcoming console. Were our guesses right on the money? Will Kinect be able to tell me why I lie awake at night? Read on and find out!

Wait, it’s called what?

The Xbox One. Pretty neat, huh? Durango would be all well and good if they were selling us a pair of particularly rugged jeans or a sporty SUV, but the new console is now known as Xbox One, a name which, surprisingly, I like, despite my inclination for snarkiness.

Are you there, Xbox? It’s me, Margaret.

“Can we improve a living room that has become too complex, too fragmented and too slow?” These were the words with which Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business president Don Mattrick opened the Xbox One press conference. Much like the PS4, Microsoft’s strategy for the Xbox One can be boiled down to two core tenets: integration and interactivity. Microsoft’s CVP of Marketing & Strategy, Yusuf Mehdi took the stage to ask us, “What if a single device could provide all your entertainment? What if that device could turn on your TV and talk to all the devices in your living room?” Through voice integration, reliance on cloud computing and a vastly improved Kinect interface, the Xbox One is meant to be less of a gaming console and more of an all-in-one entertainment device that can run your living room, Smart House-style.

The new Xbox home screen looks awfully familiar, but with a few distinct differences. By saying, “Xbox, on,” the system automatically recognized Yusuf’s voice and took him to a customized home screen. The console will remember what you were last doing. In Yusuf’s case, he was conveniently playing Forza Motorsport 5, listening to Deadmau5 and watching Netflix, which I’ll get to in short order. Still, it seems like Microsoft has put thought into how to make the start-up screen more personal, just as one would with the desktop of their personal computers, especially those who use Windows 8.

The press conference could be summed up in one sentence from Medhi: “You and your TV will have a relationship. It’s going to recognize my name, my voice… using the power of the cloud.”

Oh, Snap!

Most impressive of all was the seamless nature with which Medhi’s voice commands enabled instant switching between the console’s many functions. “Xbox, go home,” will bring you back to the home screen, because, obviously. You no longer need to change inputs to watch live TV. “Xbox, watch TV” will take you to live episodes of The Price is Right (or whatever else happens to actually be on). For those of you who simply can’t focus on one task at a time, Xbox One’s Snap Mode is sure to delight. It allows you run multiple programs alongside each other, an exciting feature that we haven’t seen on other smart devices really. Cell phones let you run programs in the background, but this picture-in-picture mode is pretty nifty. Medhi demonstrated it by watching J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek while looking up just who the hell Benedict Cumberbatch might be playing in Star Trek Into Darkness on the side of the screen.

You can even Skype on Xbox while using Snap mode. A simple “Xbox, answer call” will enable you to accept calls even while running other programs, so now you can talk to your mother while middle schoolers on Xbox Live insult her in real time. Most exciting is the potential for its integration with live television broadcasts, which Mattrick demonstrated in a video announcing the console’s partnership with the NFL. Not only can you watch live NFL broadcasts, but the Xbox One will allow you to see your fantasy team stats update in real time on the side of the screen, which is only furthering the case that fantasy sports fans are nerds of a different stripe. But what would sports be without talking smack? You can use that Skype functionality to, as Mattrick so sweetly put it, “openly taunt your friends about the success you’re enjoying.” Check out this uncomfortable stiff, infomercial-like video for more detail.

In addition, Xbox’s Favorites area lets you pin content to one convenient screen, where you can aggregate things like the television shows you want to watch most. To discover new stuff, you can head over to the Trending tab where you’ll be treated to a selection of what’s popular worldwide and among your friends, Twitter-style. Centralization and integration are the names of the game for the Xbox One. The next step? Bringing Disney’s Smart House to life.

So, when is the release date?

Unfortunately, all Don Mattrick had to say was that it will be available “later this year.” Most likely, it will be out in 2013. According to Bloomberg and many other outlets, the system will be available in time for the 2013 holiday season, priming this year’s Black Friday to be an all-out slugfest between the Xbox and the PS4.

Specs appeal

Get ready, gearheads, because this is what you and I have been waiting for. For a while, the next Xbox has been rumored to run on an 8-core, 64-bit CPU with a 1.6ghz processor, 800mhz DirectX11 GPU and what Kotaku refers to as “custom hardware blocks” which will handle certain individual tasks to reduce strain on the primary CPU. With 8GB DDR3 memory, a 500GB HDD, onboard wifi and a Blu-ray player, Microsoft’s early specs look formidable, but will they improve?

Microsoft Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten came out to tell us about how Xbox Live has been reinvented by the power of the cloud, and the big black box is “elegant and ready” for the future of console gaming, boasting 5 billion transistors, 8GB DDR3 RAM, USB 3.0, 802.11n Wireless with built-in wi-fi, HDMI In/Out (which is crucial for allowing seamless transition between gaming and TV), an 8 core CPU, 500 GB hard drive

Most compelling about Whitten’s talk was his spiel about how “the soul of the new system is the Xbox One Architecture,” which boils down to three operating systems in one. The first is the traditional Xbox OS, which devs are used to. The second is the kernel of Windows, which provides access to powerful apps. The third bridges the gap and connects the two systems to enable instant switching between the myriad functions.

A brand new Kinect sensor paired with every Xbox One comes with the system, and has been redesigned to capture voice and motion in real time at speeds we haven’t seen before. Time of Flight measures the 13 billionths of second to measure photons bouncing off of you to transmit at 2 Gbps/sec for lag-free motion and voice control. Kinect recognizes you and the controller, getting you into your latest game-save instantly. Speak and your troops follow commands, raise your controller and raise a shield. It’s all meant to create a “lag-free and instant game experience.”

The new Xbox Live is built on Xbox One’s advanced architecture to amplify a new generation. Based on your existing membership, it’s “more personal and more intelligent.” When it launched in 2002, it was being run off of 500 servers. With the 360, it increased to 3000 servers. Over the last eight years, it’s increased to 15,000 servers, but the new Xbox Live will run off of 300,000 servers, which is more than the entire world’s computing power in 1999. Achievements have been overhauled and asynchronous matchmaking lets you find the perfect match in one game while you play another which is the ultimate ADHD enabler. The goal is, according to Whitten, to create “living, persistent worlds.”

The controller remains largely unchanged apart from some minor aesthetic upgrades. The handle’s contour is a bit different, and there are off-set analog sticks, the traditional A, B, X and Y face buttons, a revamped directional pad, and two new buttons where Start and Back once were.

In addition, the controller boasts an intergrated battery compartment, impulse triggers, a Wi-Fi Direct radio stack, and a “precision directional pad,” which players of Injustice: Gods Among Us will welcome with open, frustrated arms and bruised thumbs.

TV and Xbox: together at last

One of the major sticking points of the presentation was the console’s integration with your home entertainment system and its ability to seamlessly switch back and forth between gaming and live television broadcasts.

Nancy Tellem of Xbox Entertainment Studios told us a bit about how the console will work with your cable provider to let you swap back and forth while integrating certain console-only features to your viewing experience. Then, she dropped a rather unexpected bombshell. 343 Industries head honcho Bonnie Ross joined Soulja Nancy Tellem on the stage to reveal that they are so excited for the potential of television’s storytelling magic in conjunction with the Xbox One’s robust architecture that they will be producing a live-action Halo premium television series for Xbox Live with none other than moviemaking’s Master Chief, Steven Spielberg, as executive producer.

In a pre-recorded video, Spielberg said, “The Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at that intersection where technology and myth-making meet to produce something truly groundbreaking,” While I love Master Chief, here’s hoping that instead of a faceless, emotionless protagonist, they focus their energy on the other members of the UNSC.

Shut up and show me the games!

Believe me, I ‘d really love to show you all 15 exclusive titles (8 of which are new IPs) that Microsoft teased during its press conference, but the fact of the matter is that they didn’t show us all that much. We received a taste of EA Sports’ upcoming offerings, which are powered by their brand new Ignite engine, Forza Motorsport 5, Remedy’s Quantum Break, and Infinity Wards’ Call of Duty: Ghosts, but little else. It’s pretty interesting when you think about it – Sony refused to show us the hardware, but Microsoft refused to show us the software. Either way, we’re predicting a highly eventful E3 for both companies.

Forza Motorsport 5

While it’s difficult to tell if any of this was live gameplay or a pre-rendered trailer, it’s indisputable that Forza Motorsport 5 is easy on the eyes. From the particle effects of dirt flying up from screeching tires to the confetti falling at the finish line to the individual tire tread patterns to the dynamic lighting effects, this is eye candy of the highest order and it looks like the recently announced Gran Turismo 6 is going to have some serious competition against diehard racing sim fans. Also, it’s worth noting that Forza 5 has been confirmed as a launch title for the Xbox One.

Quantum Break

You would be forgiven for wondering if you’d accidentally been transported to 1997 while watching Quantum Break‘s trailer. The brand new IP from Remedy (Max Payne, Alan Wake) showed very little gameplay footage, instead leaning on cryptic live-action footage which left me confused as to whether it was a choose your own adventure game done with FMV or equal parts live-action and video game. As someone who has enjoyed the studio’s output in the past, I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and just enjoy the general creepiness of the little girl, the massive explosions, and the highly suspicious mom.

FIFA ’14, Madden ’14, NBA Live ’14, UFC and a brand new game engine

Andrew Wilson, executive vice president of EA Sports, came out in his Tuesday finest to tell us all about EA’s upcoming offerings and its partnership with Microsoft and the Xbox One. There’s something beautiful about a British man talking about the “special relationship.” Somehow, I don’t think this means we’ll be getting a Margaret Thatcher simulator anytime soon. Wilson did, however, reveal that we’ll be seeing new installments of FIFA, Madden, NBA Live and UFC all coming in the next twelve months. In his words, they “will be revolutionary and fundamentally change the way you play” because they’re powered by EA Sports’ Ignite, a “brand new game engine designed specifically to blur the line between real and virtual” that delivers 10x more animation to its sports titles than we’ve seen in previous iterations. True Player Motion is the name of the game, utilizing the Kinect’s enhanced motion tracking capabilities to let you flop like your favorite professional athletes from the comfort of your living room. In other words, eat your heart out, Wii Fit.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

While the only peep we heard from Halo was the upcoming television series, Microsoft’s big showstopper was the worldwide reveal of Activision and Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Ghosts, which had an eyebrow-raising live action trailer drop recently, too. Set in the aftermath of a devastating attack on U.S. soil which left our military shattered and our power waning, Call of Duty: Ghosts puts you in the shoes of an elite crew of soldiers assembled from the remnants of the United States’ top special forces units. Oh, and there’s a dog this time around, too! They’ve been part of the franchise before, but this time you’ve got one on your team! Honestly, all I care about is whether or not you can play as the paramilitary pooch. In a display of the Internet’s instantaneous response time, the Delta Force-ready doggie, portrayed and mo-capped by a real-life Seal Team canine, already has a parody Twitter account. Frankly it’s about time that Air Bud had some competition.

The dev team worked with writer/director Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana) to create “emotional reality” and create a cast of characters you’d actually care about. The dialogue we heard in the trailer was pretty schlocky, but then again most grim action movie fare has that tone to it. We were also treated to a few behind-the-scenes videos boasting about the newly implemented features. For example, one dev spoke of improved physics designed to help give you a sense of momentum. They’ve also introduced sliding and leaning, fluid dynamics, interactive smoke, and I quote, “an AI system so that fish move out of the way when you get close to them.” At long last, we can rebuild that fourth wall. Activision’s “throw a lot of jargon at the consumer” approach is similar to my style of spray-and-pray in most Call of Duty multiplayer matches, so it makes sense. As per usual, all DLC will be made available on the Xbox first, so that’s yet another incentive for series diehards to gravitate to Microsoft’s new console.

In addition to these titles, we can also expect Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs, Eidos Montreal’s Thief, Bungie’s Destiny, and many more. For a comprehensive list of confirmed and probable Xbox One games, check out IGN’s well updated Wiki.

New stuff is rad, but can I play my old games?

No, no, you cannot. In an interview with The Verge, Microsoft Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten confirmed that there is no backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 titles, similar to the PS4’s lack of backwards compatibility. “No, there’s not,” said Whitten. “The system is based on a different core architecture, so back-compat[ibility] doesn’t really work from that perspective.” Yikes. Actually, it’s not that surprising from a business standpoint. Why would you deprive yourself of the market share of forcing consumers to repurchase virtual versions of their old favorites from the Xbox Marketplace? That’s money in the bank, even if it does stink to high heaven for dedicated customers who want to play all their Xbox titles – original, 360, and One – on the same system.

Additional tidbits

Microsoft has a pretty terrific FAQ page already set up to answer those burning questions you might still have about the Xbox One, but we’ll summarize a few of them for your benefit.

1) The Xbox One does not require an always-on Internet connection. This should come as a relief to many after rumors began swirling and apocalyptic visions of a Sim City or Diablo III-level fiasco began dancing in our collective heads. The console has been designed so that you can still play games, watch live TV, play Blu-rays, etc. even if you lose your connection.

2) Your Gamertag, achievements and Gamerscore will all carry over to the Xbox One and the new iteration of Xbox Live, so you don’t have to worry about some Johnny-Come-Lately snatching up your coveted BudLight420 handle.

3) Kinect is now a required part of the platform, although now it seems like you won’t have to purchase it separately. All indications from official sources indicate that the Kinect is an integral part of the new platform, especially in terms of enabling voice commands and instant switching between programs.

Closing thoughts

Overall, this press conference was much smoother than Sony’s PS4 reveal. It moved at a steady pace and focused on the hardware, which was ostensibly why we were there in the first place. However, the lack of games shown has been a sticking point for many concerned gamers on the Twittersphere. With E3 just around the corner though, I imagine many of these fears will be quickly assuaged by another larger-than-life press conference.

It seems that our notion of a video game console is changing as companies gravitate more towards creating all-in-one entertainment devices. The Xbox One’s Snap mode and ability to seamlessly switch between games, television, films, etc. was seriously impressive and looks like it could be a real game changer as far as what consumers will look for in their devices. While it’s still too early to say which one will come out on top (despite Sony’s apparently skyrocketing shares), it looks like this is going to be one of the most interesting holiday seasons we’ve seen in quite some time.

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What do you think of Microsoft’s Xbox One? What would you like to see? Let us know in the comments below or ping me on Twitter.